MANCHESTER UNITED are ready to launch a bid for Fabio Coentrao after the Real Madrid star was made available for transfer.

The Red Devils have struggled with numerous injuries to their defence this season, and boss Louis Van Gaal is keen to add reinforcements in the January window.

Despite signing Luke Shaw from Southampton over the summer, the Dutchman is desperate to bring in another experienced left-back to provide the youngster with some much-needed competition.

United had been keeping tabs on former Chelsea and Arsenal star Ashley Cole, who seems destined to leave Roma after a disastrous few months, but according to reports are now prepared to make Carlo Ancelotti a lucrative offer for ex-Benfica man Coentrao, who has fallen behind Marcelo in the pecking order after sitting the last two months out with an injury.

Coentrao is also attracting interest from a number of top European outfits, including Juventus and PSG, but Van Gaal will be hoping that a long-term contract and the offer of first-team football is enough to lure him to Old Trafford as Real Madrid step up their efforts to land a replacement in Bayern Munich maestro David Alaba.